Interview: Ian Hardman

The Featherstone Rovers player is an archetypal Mr Reliable, someone who always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

It comes as no surprise his mentor was a certain Paul Wellens. Equally so, it seems his club chairman, Mark Campbell, has utter faith in him both on and off the pitch.

After all, Hardman is going out with his daughter.

However, as is invariably the case whenever Wigan Warriors take to the field, all eyes will be on another number one tonight.

Sam Tomkins will be strutting around Featherstone’s gritty Post Office Road ground and, if Rovers are going to cause another Challenge Cup shock as they did in the last round against Castleford Tigers, taming him will be one of their trickiest tasks.

“He’s the best around, certainly in Super League,” Hardman told the Yorkshire Post.

“Watching some of the tries he’s scored and created, there’s been some amazing efforts.

“He has a real ability to make something out of nothing.

“But there’s not just Tomkins. There’s lots of other quality players throughout that Wigan side. If you just try and stop him others will open you up.

“We need to be strong throughout to try and nullify Tomkins and the rest.

“We’ll have to be better than we were against Cas’.”

It seems unthinkable that the Championship club could perform any better than in that memorable fourth round tie less than a fortnight ago.

Rising to the occasion against their more illustrious Super League rivals, to the untrained eye it would be easy to think Featherstone – determined and ambitious in equal measure – were the top-flight side.

The famous win has since seen the West Yorkshire town further enveloped in cup fever, especially following the draw which saw them pitted at home once more against the greatest club in Challenge Cup history.

Wigan have won the trophy 18 times, are 5-2 favourites to retain their title at Wembley on August 25 and are littered with stars such as Kiwi World Cup winner Thomas Leuluai, Australian Brett Finch and the explosive England second-row Gareth Hock.

Castleford, struggling in Super League, were always potential victims for a confident Rovers side who have flourished at the top end of the Championship for the last three years.

But the Wigan machine... surely this is now an impossible ask?

“We were underdogs against Cas but we’re going to be even bigger underdogs this time,” admitted Hardman, the flame-haired 26-year-old whose dynamism was so crucial in breaking down their opponents.

“It was probably the best we’ve played all season and that’s what we needed to do.

“It was always going to be tough opposition but the incentive of playing a derby game was great and the fans were amazing.

“It was a special day to get that win but we’re under no illusion how tough it will be now.

“Wigan are the holders who won the competition last year so its going to be a massive challenge. It’s something we’re looking forward to, though; it’s not every day you get to play against one of the biggest teams around.”

Maybe so for the majority of the part-time Rovers squad. However, Hardman is one of a few in their group who has been a regular previous performer in Super League.

Having emerged through the St Helens academy, the skinny teenager was handed his debut in 2003 by Ian Millward, ironically now coach of that vanquished Castleford side.

Hardman grew up knowing all about Saints’ rivalry with Wigan and, utilised both on the wing and at full-back (during Wellens’s rare absences) he was immersed in a side of true quality.

“When I came in to that Saints side there was a lot of senior internationals like Paul Sculthorpe, Keiron Cunningham and Sean Long,” he recalled.

“I came through at the same time as James Roby, James Graham and Jon Wilkin, too.

“I played quite a few times against Wigan with Saints. It’d be nice to get one over them again.

“I’ve experienced three big derbies now – Wigan/Saints, the Hull one after I went on loan to Hull KR and Fev v Cas.

“They’ve all been special and the sort of games where people are just talking so much before hand. They are great to play in and just the sort of reason I play this sport.”

For anyone who has monitored prolific Hardman in Featherstone colours since his move from Widnes in 2009, the question is why is he not still in Super League?

A terrific try-scoring and try-denying performance in front of the Sky TV cameras against Castleford will have reminded many of his talents.

Indeed, another star of that display – former Castleford ace Jonny Hepworth – signed a new two-year deal this week to ward off expected interest.

Hardman added: “I’d love to be back playing in front of those big crowds and it’s something I’m aiming for as a player.

“I’m very happy at Fev. The side is playing well and I’m getting excellent coaching every week.

“It’s no disrespect to them but I do think I’ve plenty to offer still in Super League. I could do a job.

“I am contracted this year and next at Fev but I suppose things do change.”

If he can match Tomkins tonight, he will do his case no harm and perhaps put Rovers into the quarter-finals too.